2013 Student Giving Campaign Features Presidential Match

It’s almost that time of year again—when tuition dollars no longer cover the cost of a student’s education. The university budget office reports that in fiscal year 2013, tuition dollars pay for just 61 percent of the year’s expenses, with state and private funds covering the rest.

Patriots for Patriots, Mason’s student giving campaign, raised more than $3,000 from more than 1,200 students in 2012. Photo by Creative Services.

To highlight the impact of philanthropic support on the shortfall, the Office of Annual Giving is again sponsoring the Patriots for Patriots student giving campaign.This year, university president Ángel Cabrera is offering to match gifts with a contribution of a dollar for every student donor. Cabrera’s gift will support undergraduate scholarships at the university.

“Our goal is for students to make a personally significant gift to something they care about at Mason,” said Claire Forman, assistant director of annual giving. “What that will be will vary for each person, but we hope that students are inspired by Dr. Cabrera’s leadership gift.”

For the third year, the campaign launches with Funds Are Fried Day, a mini-festival featuring music from WGMU, funnel cakes, a photo booth, and information on philanthropy at Mason. The event takes place on the North Plaza on March 21. The date roughly coincides with the time in the academic year when a student’s tuition dollars are “fried” and no longer covers the cost of his or her education.

Forman said the campaign hopes to have 1,500 students participate this year, which would top last year’s participation of more than 1,200 students. The campaign raised more than $3,200 in 2012.

Patriots for Patriots held a preview event during the February 16 Homecoming block party, which raised just under $200 from about 50 people. The campaign wraps on Mason Day on April 26.